Drawer locking system

ABSTRACT

A writing slide controlled lock mechanism for simultaneously locking drawers of a pedestal type desk. The mechanism features latch members carried by the drawers and a locking bar movable by closure of the writing slide to a locking position for effecting locking of the drawers which are in or are subsequently moved into closed position.

1 1 Feb. 12, 1974 United States Patent SignoreTannewit2...........,...r...........

mmm I y mk S 6 l o SB 97 4 3 6 43 999999 HHHHHH 00604 0129374 7340062 ,90 923600 2 2048 3 ,2 1.1 121 DRAWER LOCKING SYSTEM Inventor: Dennis J;Signore, Ellicottville, NY.

[73] Assignee: AVM Corporation, Jamestown,

[22] Filed: June 29, 1972 Appl. No.1 267,385

Primary ExaminerPaul Gilliam Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bean & BeanABSTRACT A writing slide controlled lock mechanism for simulta- [52] US.Cl. 312/221 [51] Int Cl E05c 7/06 312/216, 221

Field of Search.

neously locking drawers of a pedestal type desk. The mechanism featureslatch members carried by the References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSdrawers and a locking bar movable by closure'of the writing slide to alocking position for effecting locking of the drawers which are in.orare subsequently moved into closed position.

2,873,159 Becker.........................v...... 312/223 312/221 7Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Schuette Wheary...

r. e k C e B Pmmmm'm v 3.791.708

- sum 2 {1F 2 Fig.2.

DRAWER LOCKING SYSTEM SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to drawer locks and more particularly to locks of the typeincluding a locking bar movable vertically to effect locking of aplurality of vertically stacked drawers, such as are provided in apedestal desk or filing cabinet.

In. a preferred form of the invention, movement of a lockable writingslide to closed position is employed to drive a spring returnablelocking bar from an upper drawer unlocked to a lower locked position,whereby permitting latches pivotally carried by the several drawers tocooperate with abutments defined by drawer case or slide channels tolock the drawers in closed position. Upon return movement of the lockingbar to its upper position incident to movement of the writing slide toopen position the bar automatically removes the latches from lockingengagement with the case channels in order to permit opening of thedrawers.

In an alternative form of the present invention, movement of the writingslide to closed position serves to drive the locking bar upwardly into alocked position in which it lockingly engages the drawer latches.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of the present invention will now be morefully described in the following detailed description taken with theaccompanying drawings wherein: Y

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawer lock formed in accordance witha preferred embodiment of the present invention showing adjacent partsof a pedestal desk;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 22 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing an alternative form ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference is now made more particularly to FIG. 1,wherein the drawer lock of the present invention is generally designatedat and shown in combinationwith a conventional pedestal deskconstruction 12. Desk construction 12 is shown for purposes ofreferences as including a pedestal frame having vertically rising legand horizontally disposed rear and front frame members 14, 16 and 18,respectively; frame mounted rear and side pedestal wraps or panels 20and 22, respectively; writing slide 24; a plurality of drawers only oneof which is shown at 26; and writing slide and drawer case or slidechannels 28 and 30a-30c, respectively. Writing slide 24 may bereleasably locked in closed position by suitable means, such as a keyoperated barrel lock 32 having a retaining or latch plate 34 removablyreceivable within a slot or recess 36 formed in front frame member 18.

Lock 10 generally includes a generally L-shaped actuator plate 40; alock bar 42, which is supported for vertical reciprocating movements byframe leg 14; and a plurality of latch dogs 44,. which are provided atleast one in association with each of drawers 26.

More specifically, actuator plate 40 is shown as being supported forvertical pivotal movements relative to the pedestal frame by writingslide case channel mounted pin shaft 46; and as having a first legportion 48 arranged for receipt within a vertically disposed lock barslot-50 and a second leg portion 52 arranged for engagement by the rearedge 54 of writing slide 24 when. the latter is moved into closedposition. Suitable means, such as coil spring 55 end connected to legportion 52 and case channel 28, normally tends to retain plate 40 in itsunlocked position illustrated in FIG. 1, while permitting movementthereof into the locking position illustrated in FIG. 2 when leg portion52 is engaged by rear edge 54 of writing slide 24 when the latter isclosed.

Lock bar 42 is shown as being of generally L-shaped construction,wherein a first flange 56 is formed with a plurality of verticallyspaced guide slots 58 and essentially parallel upper flange portions andlower support flange portions 60 and 62, respectively; and a secondflange 64 is formed with slot 50 and a plurality of side opening,vertically spaced slots 66-68. Second flange 64 is also formed withessentially parallel support flange portions70 and 72, which are definedby bending over material partially cut away to define slots 66 and 67.Guide slots 58 are dimensioned to slideably receive reduced diametershank portions 74 of beaded lock nuts 76, which are threadable ontostuds 78 carried by frame leg 14. In the specific constructionillustrated, the ends of shank portions 74, which extend through slots58, additionally serve to clamp the slotted or apertured central flangeextension 80 of case channels 30a-30c in assembled relationship withframe leg 14.

It will be understood that in the preferred form of the presentinvention, engagement of shank portions 74 with the lower ends of guideslots 58 determines the upper or unlocked position of lock bar 42 andwhen the lock bar is in this position the upper surface of supportflange portions 62, 70 and 72 are arranged essentially flush with theupper surfaces of case channel lower flanges 30a-30c', respectively. Inthis connection, it will be appreciated that a gig may be employed toaccurately control the spacing of apertures formed in frame leg 14 forthe receipt of studs 78 and that present metal cutting and bendingtechniques makes it possible to accurately control the spacing betweenlock bar guide slots and the positioning of lock bar support flanges 62,70 and 72 relative thereto, as well as the vertical spacing between themounting openings 80a in central flange extension 80 and associated casechannel lower flanges 30a'30c. Thus, by employing studs 78 and lock nuts76 to both clamp the case channels to the frame leg and to determine theupper position of the lock bar, the flush relationship of support flangeportions 62, 70 and 72 relative to case channel lower flanges 30a'30c'may be assured.

Alternatively, the unlocked position of lock bar 42 may be determined byengagement of upper flange portion60 with a part of the pedestal framein a manner,

not shown. In either case, the lock bar may be moved into its upperposition by engagement of leg portion 48 with the upper end of slot 50or the lower surface of upper flange portion 60.

Each of latch dogs 44 is supported for. vertical pivotal movement by apin shaft 82, which extends outwardly from a side wall of its associateddrawer 36. Preferably, pin shaft 82 additionally serves to mount adrawer rear supporting roller 84.

In the preferred construction illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the freeswing end of each latch dog is down turned to define a foot 44a, whichslides along case channel lower flange portion 30a30c, during openingand closing movements of the drawer whereby to normally support thelatch dogs in a first pivotal position thereof. If desired, coil springdevices 86 may be associated with one or more of latch dogs 44 for thepurpose of positively biasing their feet 44a downwardly in a clockwisesense, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. When desiring to lock the drawers ofa desk or cabinet employing the present invention, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, it is merely necessary to move writing slide 24 into itsfully closed position wherein it may be retained by operation of lock32. When the writing slide 24 is in closed position, its rear edge 54engages with actuator plate leg 52 and the actuator plate 40 is therebymain tained in the locked position illustrated in FIG. 2 against thereturn bias of coil spring 55. Upon movement of actuator plate 40 to itslocked position, lock bar 42 is lowered into its locked positionillustrated in FIG. 2, due to the weight of the lock bar, to engagementof actuator plate leg 48 with the bottom end of slot 50 and/or todownward force exerted by coil springs 86 on support flange portions 70,72 and/or 62 through latch dogs'44. As will be apparent, with supportflange portions 70, 72 and 62 disposed below case channel flanges30a30c, the weight of latch dogs 44 and/or their associated springs 86is operable to swing the latch dogs downwardly into a secondpivotalposition wherein latch dog feet 44a engage against the rearwardlyrfacingedges of case channel flanges 30a-30c, which serve to define abutmentsfor positively locking their associated drawers in closed position. Anydrawers-remaining in open position after the writing slide is locked inclosed position, will be automatically locked when returned to theirclosed positions.

When desiring to unlock drawers 26, it is merely necessary to unlocklock 32; spring 55 being normally effective to both force the writingslide open sufficiently to permit return of actuator plate 40 to itsoriginal unlocked position and to raise lock bar 42 to its unlockedposition. As support flange portions 70, 72 and 62 are returned to theirinitial positions wherein they are arranged flush with case channelflanges 30a30c, latch dog feet 44a are raised sufficiently to free samefrom engagement with the rear ends of the case channels.

The alternative construction of the present invention illustrated inFIG. 3 differs from that previously described in that actuator plate 40is arranged such that it is pivoted in a counter-clockwise sense uponclosing movement of the writing slide to effect upward movement of thelock bar into a locked position and spring 55 normally tends to drivethe lock bar downwardly into an unlocked position, not shown. Further,in this construction, the feet of latch dogs 44 are deleted and replacedby downwardly opening slots 44b, which are dimensioned to receive thoseportions of second flange 64 forming the lower ends or edges of slots66-68. Thus, in this construction lock, bar 42 defines abutments forlocking the drawers in closed position, which are either inserted intoor removed from slot openings 44b when the lock bar is moved verticallybetween its upper locked and lower unlocked positions. Any drawersremaining in open position after the writing slide is locked in closedposition, will be automatically locked when returned to their closedposition. In this connection, it will be understood that the inclinedend 440 of each latch dog serves to cam its latch dog upwardly as thedrawer approaches its fully closed position and that when the drawer isfully closed the weight of the latch dog and/or the bias of itsassociated coil spring pivots the latch dog downwardly to a positionwherein the lock bar is received within slot 44!).

I claim: I

l. A locking mechanism in combination with a desk having a pedestalcabinet with a pull outwriting slide, at least one pull out drawerarranged below and in vertical alignment with said slide, surface meansfor independently supporting said slide and said drawer for movementbetween opened and closed positions, and a lock means for releasablyretaining said slide in closed position, said locking mechanismcomprising:

a latch dog carried one by each said drawer for vertical, pivotalmovement relative thereto, said latch dog being normally supported in afirst pivotal position by sliding engagement with said surface meansduring opening and closing movements of said drawer;

abutment means defined by a rear end portion of said surface means andassociated one with each said latch dog;

lock bar means supported by said desk for movement between verticallyspaced unlocked and locked positions, said lock bar means includinglatch dog supporting means arranged in an essentially coplanarrelationship with said surface means when said lock bar means is in saidunlocked position, whereby to support said latch dog in said firstpivotal position when said drawer is in closed position, said latch dogsupporting means being arranged vertically below said surface means whensaid lock bar means is in said locked position, whereby to permit saidlatch dog'to pivot downwardly from said first pivotal position into asecond pivotal position for drawer locking engagement with itsassociated abutment means when said drawer is moved into closedposition; and

means responsive to movement of said writing slide between opened andclosed positions for moving said lock bar means vertically between saidunlocked and locked positions, respectively, whereby when said writingslide is in said closed position and said drawer is in said closedposition said latch dog is engaged with its associated abutment means toeffect locking of said drawer in said closed position.

2. A locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said lockingmechanism additionally includes spring means tending to bias said latchdog from said first pivotal position into said second pivotal position,said latch dog being pivotally mounted on a side wall of said drawer bya pin shaft and said pin shaft additionally serves to mount a drawerrear supporting roller.

3. A locking mechanism in combination with a desk having a pedestalcabinet with a pull out writing slide, at least one pull out drawerarranged below and in vertical alignment with said slide, surface meansfor independently supporting said slide and said drawer for movementbetween opened and closed positions, and a lock means for releasablyretaining said slide in closed position, said locking mechanismcomprising:

a latch dog carried one by each said drawer for vertical, pivotalmovement relative thereto, said latch from a position essentiallycoplanar with said surface means when said lock bar means is in saidunlocked position into a position elevated above said surface means whensaid lock barmeans is in said locked position; and

means responsive to movement of said writing slide between open andclosed positions for moving said lock bar means between said unlockedand locked positions, respectively, whereby when writing slide is inclosed position and said drawer is moved into closed position said latchdog is moved into engagement with said abutment means.

4. A cabinet construction comprising in combination:

a cabinet frame;

a plurality of drawers;

a plurality of surface means fixed to said frame in a vertically spacedrelationship for supporting said drawers relative to said frame in avertically aligned relationship and for independent movement be,- tweendrawer open and closed positions, each said surface means defining anabutment adjacent a rear end thereof;

a latch dog carried one by each of said drawers for vertical pivotalmovement relative thereto, each said latch dog having a foot end portionfor normally supporting said latch dog in a first pivotal position bysliding engagement with its drawer associated surface means duringopening and closing movements of its drawer but being movable rearwardlyof said abutment defined by its drawer associated surface means when itsdrawer is in fully closed position;

a lock bar carried by said frame for vertical reciprocating movementsand having a plurality of supporting surface means spaced verticallytherealong at distances corresponding to the distances between saidsurface means; and

operating means for selectively moving said lock bar between an upperunlocking position wherein said supporting surface means forms acontinuation of said surface means for supporting said foot end portionsout of engagement with said abutments and a lower locked positionwherein said supporting surface means is disposed vertically below saidsurface means for permitting downwardly pivotal movement of said latchdogs to position said foot end portions in drawer locking engagementwith said abutments.

5. A cabinet construction according to claim 4, wherein said frameincludes a vertically rising frame leg, each of said surface meansincludes a case channel having at least a vertically extending mountingflange and a horizontally disposed flange portion for supporting anassociated drawer and its latch dog during opening and closing movementsof said drawer, and said case channels and said lock bar are fixed tosaid frame leg by an assembly serving to define said upper unlockv 6 ingposition wherein each said supporting surface means forms a continuationof said horizontally disposed flange portion of an associated one ofsaid case channels, said assembly including a plurality of verticallyrising guide slots formed in said lock bar in a predeterminedrelationship to said supporting surface means, a mounting opening formedin each said vertically extending mounting flange adjacent a rearwardlyextending end thereof in pre-determined relationship to an associatedhorizontally disposed flange portion, a

plurality of threaded studs extending horizontally from said frame legin a predetermined vertically spaced relationship, and headed lock nutsprovided one in association with each said stud and having reduceddiameter shank portions dimensioned to be slideably received within saidguide slots, said studs being received one within each of said mountingopenings and the shank portion of an associated stud mounted lock nutpassing through one of said guide slots and clamping the verticallyextending mounting flange to said frame leg, engagement of saidshankportions with lowermost ends of said guide slots determining theupper unlocking position of said lock bar.

6. A cabinet construction comprising in combination:

a cabinet frame;

a plurality of drawers;

a plurality of surface means fixed to said frame in a vertically spacedrelationship for supporting said drawers relative to said frame in avertically aligned relationship and for independent movement betweendrawer open and closed positions;

plurality of latch-dogs carried one by each .of said drawers forvertical pivotal movements relative thereto, each of said latch dogsbeing supported for sliding movement in engagement with its drawerassociated surface means during opening and closing movements of itsdrawer and having a downwardly opening slot positionable rearwardly ofits drawer associated surface means only when its drawer is in fullyclosed position;

a lock bar carried by said frame for vertical reciprocating movements,said lock bar defining a plurality of abutments spaced verticallytherealong at distances corresponding to the distances between saidsurface means; and

operating means for selectively moving said lock bar between an upperlocked position wherein said abutments are raised above said surfacemeans to insert said abutments within said latch dog slots to lock saiddrawers in fully closed position and a lower unlocked position whereinsaid abutments are moved downwardly from within said latch dog slots andsaid latch dogs are supported by said surface means for sliding movementas aforesaid.

7. A cabinet construction according to claim 6, wherein said frameincludes a vertically rising frame leg, each of said surface meansincludes a case channel having at least a vertically extending mountingflange and a horizontally disposed flange portion for supporting anassociated drawer and its latch dog during opening and closing movementsof said drawer, and said case channels and said lock bar are fixed tosaid frame leg by an assembly including a plurality of vertically risingguide slots formed in said lock bar in a predetermined relationship tosaid abutments, a mounting opening formed in each said verticallyextending tions dimensioned to be slideably received within said guideslots, said studs being received one within each of said mountingopenings and the shank portion of an associated stud mounted lock nutpassing through one of said guide slots and clamping the verticallyextending mounting flange to said frame leg.

1. A locking mechanism in combination with a desk having a pedestalcabinet with a pull out writing slide, at least one pull out drawerarranged below and in vertical alignment with said slide, surface meansfor independently supporting said slide and said drawer for movementbetween opened and closed positions, and a lock means for releasablyretaining said slide in cLosed position, said locking mechanismcomprising: a latch dog carried one by each said drawer for vertical,pivotal movement relative thereto, said latch dog being normallysupported in a first pivotal position by sliding engagement with saidsurface means during opening and closing movements of said drawer;abutment means defined by a rear end portion of said surface means andassociated one with each said latch dog; lock bar means supported bysaid desk for movement between vertically spaced unlocked and lockedpositions, said lock bar means including latch dog supporting meansarranged in an essentially coplanar relationship with said surface meanswhen said lock bar means is in said unlocked position, whereby tosupport said latch dog in said first pivotal position when said draweris in closed position, said latch dog supporting means being arrangedvertically below said surface means when said lock bar means is in saidlocked position, whereby to permit said latch dog to pivot downwardlyfrom said first pivotal position into a second pivotal position fordrawer locking engagement with its associated abutment means when saiddrawer is moved into closed position; and means responsive to movementof said writing slide between opened and closed positions for movingsaid lock bar means vertically between said unlocked and lockedpositions, respectively, whereby when said writing slide is in saidclosed position and said drawer is in said closed position said latchdog is engaged with its associated abutment means to effect locking ofsaid drawer in said closed position.
 2. A locking mechanism according toclaim 1, wherein said locking mechanism additionally includes springmeans tending to bias said latch dog from said first pivotal positioninto said second pivotal position, said latch dog being pivotallymounted on a side wall of said drawer by a pin shaft and said pin shaftadditionally serves to mount a drawer rear supporting roller.
 3. Alocking mechanism in combination with a desk having a pedestal cabinetwith a pull out writing slide, at least one pull out drawer arrangedbelow and in vertical alignment with said slide, surface means forindependently supporting said slide and said drawer for movement betweenopened and closed positions, and a lock means for releasably retainingsaid slide in closed position, said locking mechanism comprising: alatch dog carried one by each said drawer for vertical, pivotal movementrelative thereto, said latch dog being normally supported in a firstpivotal position by sliding engagement with said surface means duringopening and closing movements of said drawer; lock bar means supportedby said desk for vertical movement between upper locked and lowerunlocked positions, said lock bar means defining abutment meansassociated one with each said latch dog, said abutment means beingmovable from a position essentially coplanar with said surface meanswhen said lock bar means is in said unlocked position into a positionelevated above said surface means when said lock bar means is in saidlocked position; and means responsive to movement of said writing slidebetween open and closed positions for moving said lock bar means betweensaid unlocked and locked positions, respectively, whereby when writingslide is in closed position and said drawer is moved into closedposition said latch dog is moved into engagement with said abutmentmeans.
 4. A cabinet construction comprising in combination: a cabinetframe; a plurality of drawers; a plurality of surface means fixed tosaid frame in a vertically spaced relationship for supporting saiddrawers relative to said frame in a vertically aligned relationship andfor independent movement between drawer open and closed positions, eachsaid surface means defining an abutment adjacent a rear end thereof; alatch dog carried one by each of said drawers for vertical pivotalmovement relative thereto, each said latch dog having a foot End portionfor normally supporting said latch dog in a first pivotal position bysliding engagement with its drawer associated surface means duringopening and closing movements of its drawer but being movable rearwardlyof said abutment defined by its drawer associated surface means when itsdrawer is in fully closed position; a lock bar carried by said frame forvertical reciprocating movements and having a plurality of supportingsurface means spaced vertically therealong at distances corresponding tothe distances between said surface means; and operating means forselectively moving said lock bar between an upper unlocking positionwherein said supporting surface means forms a continuation of saidsurface means for supporting said foot end portions out of engagementwith said abutments and a lower locked position wherein said supportingsurface means is disposed vertically below said surface means forpermitting downwardly pivotal movement of said latch dogs to positionsaid foot end portions in drawer locking engagement with said abutments.5. A cabinet construction according to claim 4, wherein said frameincludes a vertically rising frame leg, each of said surface meansincludes a case channel having at least a vertically extending mountingflange and a horizontally disposed flange portion for supporting anassociated drawer and its latch dog during opening and closing movementsof said drawer, and said case channels and said lock bar are fixed tosaid frame leg by an assembly serving to define said upper unlockingposition wherein each said supporting surface means forms a continuationof said horizontally disposed flange portion of an associated one ofsaid case channels, said assembly including a plurality of verticallyrising guide slots formed in said lock bar in a predeterminedrelationship to said supporting surface means, a mounting opening formedin each said vertically extending mounting flange adjacent a rearwardlyextending end thereof in pre-determined relationship to an associatedhorizontally disposed flange portion, a plurality of threaded studsextending horizontally from said frame leg in a predetermined verticallyspaced relationship, and headed lock nuts provided one in associationwith each said stud and having reduced diameter shank portionsdimensioned to be slideably received within said guide slots, said studsbeing received one within each of said mounting openings and the shankportion of an associated stud mounted lock nut passing through one ofsaid guide slots and clamping the vertically extending mounting flangeto said frame leg, engagement of said shank portions with lowermost endsof said guide slots determining the upper unlocking position of saidlock bar.
 6. A cabinet construction comprising in combination: a cabinetframe; a plurality of drawers; a plurality of surface means fixed tosaid frame in a vertically spaced relationship for supporting saiddrawers relative to said frame in a vertically aligned relationship andfor independent movement between drawer open and closed positions; aplurality of latch dogs carried one by each of said drawers for verticalpivotal movements relative thereto, each of said latch dogs beingsupported for sliding movement in engagement with its drawer associatedsurface means during opening and closing movements of its drawer andhaving a downwardly opening slot positionable rearwardly of its drawerassociated surface means only when its drawer is in fully closedposition; a lock bar carried by said frame for vertical reciprocatingmovements, said lock bar defining a plurality of abutments spacedvertically therealong at distances corresponding to the distancesbetween said surface means; and operating means for selectively movingsaid lock bar between an upper locked position wherein said abutmentsare raised above said surface means to insert said abutments within saidlatch dog slots to lock said drawers in fully closed position and alower unlocked positIon wherein said abutments are moved downwardly fromwithin said latch dog slots and said latch dogs are supported by saidsurface means for sliding movement as aforesaid.
 7. A cabinetconstruction according to claim 6, wherein said frame includes avertically rising frame leg, each of said surface means includes a casechannel having at least a vertically extending mounting flange and ahorizontally disposed flange portion for supporting an associated drawerand its latch dog during opening and closing movements of said drawer,and said case channels and said lock bar are fixed to said frame leg byan assembly including a plurality of vertically rising guide slotsformed in said lock bar in a pre-determined relationship to saidabutments, a mounting opening formed in each said vertically extendingmounting flange adjacent a rearwardly extending end thereof inpre-determined relationship to an associated horizontally disposedflange portion, a plurality of threaded studs extending horizontallyfrom said frame leg in a pre-determined vertically spaced relationship,and headed lock nuts provided one in association with each said stud andhaving reduced diameter shank portions dimensioned to be slideablyreceived within said guide slots, said studs being received one withineach of said mounting openings and the shank portion of an associatedstud mounted lock nut passing through one of said guide slots andclamping the vertically extending mounting flange to said frame leg.